Enhanced pressure measurement flow control system
First Claim
1. A system for measuring in an isolated rigid container partially filled with a fluid, the volume, Vu of that portion of the container that is not occupied by the fluid, such portion being called the unoccupied portion, the system comprising:
- reservoir means for holding a fixed, known volume, Vr, of a measurement gas;
pressure means for (i) permitting the measurement gas to fill the unoccupied portion of the container, so that the measurement gas is in fluid communication with the fluid in the container, (ii) in a first valve position, permitting the measurement gas to flow between the container and the reservoir means, and, in a second valve position, preventing the measurement gas from flowing between the container and the reservoir means, and (iii) upon activation, changing the pressure in the reservoir means by changing the amount of measurement gas in the reservoir means;
transducer means for measuring the pressure in the reservoir means; and
control means for (i) reading pressure measurements from the transducer means, (ii) putting the pressure means into the first or second valve position (iii) activating the pressure means to change the pressure in the reservoir means, and (iv) calculating, based on the pressure measurements and the volume, Vr, of the reservoir means, the volume, Vu, of that portion of the partially filled container that is not occupied by the liquid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for measuring flow of fluid through a line. A portion of the fluid in the line is isolated in a rigid container so that the fluid in the container is not affected by pressure in the rest of the line. An apparatus is provided for measuring that portion of the container that is not occupied by the fluid. In order to urge fluid into and out of the container, a positive pressure source, for providing gas to the container, and a negative pressure source for removing gas from the container, are provided for.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A system for measuring in an isolated rigid container partially filled with a fluid, the volume, Vu of that portion of the container that is not occupied by the fluid, such portion being called the unoccupied portion, the system comprising:
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reservoir means for holding a fixed, known volume, Vr, of a measurement gas; pressure means for (i) permitting the measurement gas to fill the unoccupied portion of the container, so that the measurement gas is in fluid communication with the fluid in the container, (ii) in a first valve position, permitting the measurement gas to flow between the container and the reservoir means, and, in a second valve position, preventing the measurement gas from flowing between the container and the reservoir means, and (iii) upon activation, changing the pressure in the reservoir means by changing the amount of measurement gas in the reservoir means; transducer means for measuring the pressure in the reservoir means; and control means for (i) reading pressure measurements from the transducer means, (ii) putting the pressure means into the first or second valve position (iii) activating the pressure means to change the pressure in the reservoir means, and (iv) calculating, based on the pressure measurements and the volume, Vr, of the reservoir means, the volume, Vu, of that portion of the partially filled container that is not occupied by the liquid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for controlling flow of a fluid through a line, the system comprising:
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isolation means for (i) holding a region of the fluid in the line in a rigid container, the rigid container having a larger volume than the region of fluid, and (ii) in a first flow position, permitting fluid to flow into or out of the container and, in a second flow position, isolating the region of the fluid in the line from effects of pressure in the line outside the region; measurement means for measuring, with a measurement gas in fluid communication with the fluid in the region, the volume Vu, of that portion of the container not occupied by the fluid; positive pressure means for, upon activation, supplying measurement gas to the isolation means; negative pressure means for, upon activation, removing measurement gas from the isolation means; control means for (i) putting the isolation means into the first or second flow position, (ii) activating the positive pressure means and the negative pressure means, and (iii) controlling the measurement means. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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Specification